The 2 reasons I don't use Marriott mobile check-in
Hotel companies around the world continue to invest heavily in upgrading their technology, including providing mobile room keys and chat features that let you connect with the property directly through the app. When people think about hotel applications, one of the most basic functions that comes to mind is mobile check-in for an upcoming stay.
I'm a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium elite member, and recently got back from a month-long trip that saw me staying 23 nights across eight different Marriott properties. Not once during this trip did I use Marriott's mobile check-in option in the app, and there are two important reasons why.
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I get upgraded without using mobile check-in
There are generally two reasons why people use mobile check-in services: convenience, and because they think it will enhance their chances of an upgrade. I don't really buy the convenience argument since at 99% of hotels you still need to stop by the front desk, show your ID and swipe your credit card to pick up a room key, but I'm finding the upgrade argument to hold less and less sway as well.
Related: Which Marriott Bonvoy credit card is right for you?
I don't know what's changed, but in the last six months or so I've noticed more and more hotels have started upgrading me two or three days before arrival, with my new room type reflected in the app. I don't know what caused this sudden change or whether I'm just getting very lucky with the specific hotels I've been staying at, but I never use mobile check-in so that doesn't explain it. For example, my upgrade to an overwater villa at the W Maldives was showing in my Marriott app the day before I arrived in Malé.
When I got to the W lounge to wait for my seaplane flight, Adam from the W team was so excited to tell me I'd been upgraded. I decided to play dumb while he gave me a strong handshake and the biggest smile I'd ever seen when he told me the good news, but I'd already known about the upgrade for nearly 24 hours.
Of course, I don't get preemptively upgraded like this at every property. More often than not, there are better rooms (including suites) available but I'll only get upgraded if I ask specifically at check-in. In that case, checking in on the app doesn't help at all as I still need to stop by the desk.
Related: Maximizing redemptions with Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott's elite benefits guarantee
You might be thinking to yourself "fine, so there's no clear benefit in mobile check-in but I'm going to keep doing it because there's no harm either." I'll admit that this second point is a bit nitpicky, but for elite members, especially those who've felt burned under the new Bonvoy program, this point is worth paying attention to.
Marriott publishes an elite benefits guarantee, which clearly details the major benefits that come with different tiers of elite status, and more importantly, what compensation you're entitled to if the hotel fails to deliver on published benefits. If you're a Platinum, Titanium or Ambassador elite, you're entitled to a choice of welcome gift at most properties. The exact options vary by brand, but will usually include bonus points, free breakfast, a food and drink credit, or some local amenity.
I know exactly what gift I want to select based on the brand I'm staying at: free breakfast unless there's a club lounge or it's included already, and bonus points as my backup option. The important line here is that you'll "receive a choice of gift" when checking in. If Marriott fails to meet this guarantee, you're entitled to compensation of $100 (or the equivalent in local currency) at most luxury brands, and $25 or $50 at some extended-stay or budget properties.
So how does this relate to mobile check-in? When you check in through the app, you automatically select points as your welcome amenity, though you can change to free breakfast or any of the other options by stopping by the reception desk (again, erasing any benefit of having checked in in advance). Once you select the points, you can't then turn around and claim that Marriott didn't offer you your choice of welcome amenity: the benefit has been provided appropriately.
Related: How to get free hotel breakfast
Thankfully in all my travels I haven't yet come across a hotel that failed to offer me my choice of welcome amenity, forcing me to claim compensation under the elite benefits guarantee. Marriott properties are getting much better at uniformly recognizing elite status, and I can imagine that most properties that still drop the ball there also have other issues that would need to be addressed.
One of the reasons I've been so content to deal with all the ups and downs of Marriott Bonvoy is that Marriott has done a good job fairly compensating me every time things go wrong — absurdly long hold times, points not posting correctly, you name it. The elite benefits guarantee is another safety net, so that if Marriott doesn't deliver as advertised, you'll be compensated appropriately.
Bottom line
Mobile check-in is very easy to do, and hotel apps do a great job of sending you push notifications to encourage you to use the feature. However, when you break it down, there isn't much benefit in doing so. For starters, you'll almost always need to stop by the physical check in desk to verify your ID and pick up your key, and by using the mobile check-in you'll end up invalidating an elite benefit guarantee that you might need later.
Of course we'd all rather hotels stick to the script and do what they're supposed to do, but claiming the compensation you're entitled to when they don't helps keep them honest and reminds them to play by the rules.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.